Xi urges quality construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway

BISHKEK -- President Xi Jinping on Monday called on China and Kyrgyzstan to ensure the high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway.

In his talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Xi described the railway as a major transportation artery that carries the development aspirations of the people across the region.

Japarov said Kyrgyzstan stands ready to actively advance the construction of the railway project, so as to turn it into a "steel Silk Road" for the new era and a new bond of friendship between the two countries.

The railway, which is currently under construction, was launched at the end of 2024. It is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, serving as a strategic link between China and Central Asia.

The route will begin in Kashgar, located in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and pass through the mountainous terrain of Kyrgyzstan to reach Uzbekistan.